This is a genuinely interesting film. It kicks off feeling like a queer character study hitting every single beat you'd expect from a rom-com, and then it takes a hard turn into something a lot darker. At its core it's about a gay teenager who gets pulled into a crime by his own friend group. It's set in this world of Mexico's elite class, and while we've seen something similar with the wealthy setting in Spain's Elite, this is the first time I've really seen that kind of world explored through a Mexican lens. Our main guy is Alf, a student from serious money who's just come back to his Catholic all boys school in Mexico after spending a year away at a religious boarding school in the States. Coming back, he realizes his school and his old friend group aren't the same as when he left, they've traded in being precocious kids for chasing girls and getting drunk. Instead, Alf finds himself drawn to Oliver, a new student who plays ukulele and stands ...
The film actually spans 4 years and we see what happens on 4 consecutive valentine days. Mark joins half-american half-filipino Derek in his dorm room as a roommate. He is initially very shy in the first year. The second year, they have come close as friends, where Mark is now helping Derek in opening up to his girlfriend because he thinks she is the one. The third year, we see a heartbroken Derek who is questioning if something is wrong with him. Mark continues to be his very very supportive friend but in the process they end up sleeping with each other and questioning if what happened the night was right. Cut to year 4 (or day 4), they have been together for a year but Mark is frustrated by the fact that Derek doesn't acknowledge their relationship outside their room. Its valentine's day and Derek's mother is visiting yet Derek doesn't tell anyone the truth. They fight ad arguments happen and the film ends with Derek planting a kiss on mark in full public view.
One of the best things about this film is that we get a close and intimate look at the relationship between two friends. The two actors are simply superb and actually very good looking. They also share an amazing chemistry. The beauty here is in watching their feelings change year after year as they realize what they mean to each other. The last section when Mark is mad at Derek is shot in one go and the emotions and pain that Mark has can be felt. The arguments seem so real that it feels you are being intrusive in someone's personal moments. You can feel the pain or emotion of both characters even if they never talk. Having said that, personally I do not agree with the behavior of Mark. No one except Derek (extremely handsome) has the right to decide when and to whom to come out to. Now to the bad part, there are so many scenes of long silences that its unnerving. Long scenes, such as periods of brooding silence, aerial shots of trees and buildings, and one of the lead characters serenading his girlfriend with an entire song, or Mark near a swimming pool ; test your patience to the maximum. If you removed those long silent scenes, this movie could be a perfect short 25 minute film.
You have to watch this film on a device where you can fast forward these long drawn scenes and focus on the content. Once that is done, you will be satisfied by what you see. More for the chemistry and the brilliant acting in the last couple of scenes when the movie reaches a whole new level. (5/10)
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